Culture Days

Culture Days is Canada's biggest national arts and culture event that takes place each year the last weekend in September. Attendees join in free activities and performances hosted by artists, cultural organizations and the City. This event gives behind-the-scenes access to local arts, culture and heritage over three incredible days of free activities.

The City participates each year as a local organizer of Culture Days events. There's something for everyone!

Culture Days 2018

It’s time to get creative and plan your schedule for this year’s Culture Days weekend!

The City of Thunder Bay invites you to celebrate your love of art and culture during Culture Days weekend this September 28th, 29th and 30th. This year’s national theme is ‘OnBeat’, so get ready for some rhythm inspired fun.

Culture Days is a nation-wide event that celebrates and encourages participation in cultural activity. It’s your chance to get ‘behind-the-scenes’ glimpses into the art forms you love. Check out what is going on in Thunder Bay during Culture Days. All activities are FREE and there are more than 30 registered across Thunder Bay this year. You can search activities by keyword, location, and region to find out what's happening.

FILM SYNOPSIS:An adaptation of Richard Wagamese’s award winning novel, this moving and important drama sheds light on the dark history of Canada’s Residential Schools and the indomitable spirit of Indigenous people. Check out the film trailer.

ACTOR TALK AND Q&AEdna Manitowabi (Naomi) is a knowledge keeper and wonderful speaker. She will join us after the screening for a talk, discussion & Q&A. Manitowabi, Anishnaabekwe, is Bear Clan, a Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, of Ojibway/Odawa ancestry originally from Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island. A fifth degree Midewewin teacher and seeker of Indigenous knowledge, Edna is one of the founders and teachers of Minwaywaygaan Midewewiwin Lodge, Rosseau River, Manitoba.Though recently retired, as Professor Emeritus, Edna Manitowabi, maintains her connections to the Indigenous Studies Department at Trent University. Here over the years, she has developed and taught courses in Tradition and Culture, Aboriginal Knowledge, Indigenous Theatre, Aboriginal Women, and has been instrumental in the development of, as well as teaching, components of this university’s PhD program in Indigenous Knowledge.

Dee McCullay is a Producer/ Director from the Thunder Bay area creating Horror and paranormal documentaries since 2012 including Thunder Bay Paranormal Society, Dark History, Sasquatch on Lake Superior I & II and has been seen on Destiation America, T+E & TruTV.

Musician, artist and producer Benjamin Murray has been selected as one of the 2018 participants in the Ontario Culture Days Youth Artist Ambassador Program (YAAP).

As part of YAAP, Murray organized a youth hip hop music project. Murray will be provided an opportunity for Thunder Bay youth to develop their own music through collaborative songwriting and music video production workshops.

The resulting songs and videos will be premiered at the Magnus Theatre during the Culture Days weekend alongside an artist talk with Murray and participating youth.

Add your business to this distinguished list - become an event sponsor!

If you would like to give your brand a boost, consider our region's most popular and well-attended special events. If your company is interested in participating as a sponsor for the City of Thunder Bay's award-winning events, please email our Cultural Development Supervisor or call 625-2487.

Highlights from last year's event:

The tale of a town - multi-media performance

Tale of a Town completed their three-week residency culminated in the presentation of a multimedia performance of stories from the community's colourful history, incorporating audio, archives, music and soundscape!

Open Streets

From noon to 3pm on Sunday, October 1, EcoSuperior opened up Court Street from John all the way to Boulevard Lake for pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers, skateboarders and dog walkers. There were special Culture Days activities all along the route!

Fall Pow Wow - Bringing Community Together

From noon to 10pm on Saturday, September 30th, Fort William First Nation hosted their Fall Pow Wow at the Pow Wow Grounds on Anemki Wajiw-Mount McKay. Grand Entry was at noon. The theme was Bringing Community Together.

Movie Night Screening of Sleeping Giant

The City presented a special screening of locally-made feature film Sleeping Giant. To open, there was a screening of the short film The Giant Awakens made this summer by the Thunder Bay Art Gallery's Youth Art Group!

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